UPDATE: Fed Announces Enforcement Action Against Irwin Financial
September 16 2009 - 12:08PM
Dow Jones News
The U.S. Federal Reserve Wednesday announced an enforcement
action against Irwin Financial Corporation (IFC) in effort "to
correct certain deficiencies" at the banking holding company.
Under the cease-and-desist order, Irwin must take steps to
ensure that its subsidiary bank, Irwin Union Bank, is functioning
in a safe and sound manner.
But in an SEC filing Wednesday, Irwin said it won't be able to
meet the requirements.
"There is no realistic prospect of achieving the required
capital levels by the date required in the order," said Irwin in
the filing. It added that, in the absence of certain loan sales
that are unlikely to be approved by regulators, it "cannot achieve
the requisite reduction in reliance on the designated deposits by
the required date."
The Fed's order calls on Irwin to meet certain capital
guidelines. The firm, for instance, must maintain a consolidated
total risk-based capital ratio of at least 11% by the end of the
month and achieve a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 12%
by the end of the month as well.
Additionally, the bank holding firm has 10 days to submit a plan
to the Fed to reduce Irwin Union Bank's reliance on wholesale
deposits.
Also, Irwin and the bank cannot sell or dispose of any asset
without prior approval from the Fed, according to the order.
The Fed said Irwin and its banking unit failed to fully comply
with an October 2008 written agreement between the holding company,
the bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. That agreement
was designed to correct certain deficiencies "relating to safety
and soundness," the central bank said in the order.
Irwin is an Indiana firm that provides a broad range of banking
services to small businesses and consumers in the Midwest and
Southwest.
-By Maya Jackson Randall, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9255,
maya.jackson-randall@dowjones.com